Thursday, October 30, 2008

Address: 1634 BroadwaySeating capacity: 1,482 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Mamma Mia!"Notable for: This famous theater was home of "Cats" for years and years; this large theater boats a wide auditorium/stage suited for staging large musicals

What I've seen at this theater:-"Cats" with Laura Beechman (1995): **1/2

Address: 150 West 65th StreetSeating capacity: 1,080 (mid-sized), with one balconyCurrently playing: "South Pacific"Notable for: This theater is part of the Lincoln Center complex; the theater boasts a classical thrust stage, which is surrounded on three sides by seating; the theater is steeply raked, so the auditorium has a large feel

Address: 254 West 54th StreetSeating capacity: 920 (small to mid-sized), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Pal Joey"Notable for: A recent addition to Broadway, it is currently being operated by the Roundabout Theater Company; yes, this used to be the legendary club

What I've seen at this theater:-"Cabaret" with John Stamos (2002): ****-"Assassins" with Neil Patrick Harris (2004): ***1/2-"110 in the Shade" with Audra McDonald (2007): ***-"Sunday in the Park with George" with Daniel Evans (2008): ***1/2

Address: 225 West 45th StreetSeating capacity: 1,521 (large), with two balconiesCurrently playing: "Spamalot"Notable for: Located in the heart of the theater district, the Shubert is the epitome of the Broadway theater

What I've seen at this theater:-"Crazy for You" with Karen Ziemba (1995): ***1/2-"Big" with Barbara Walsh (1996): **

Address: 261 West 47th StreetSeating capacity: 650 (small), with one balconyCurrently playing: "To Be or Not to Be"Notable for: Intimacy; for the longest time, the theater was dark and was just recently impeccably restored; it is the Broadway home of the Manhattan Theater Club

What I've seen at this theater:-"Reckless" with Mary-Louise Parker (2004): ***-"LoveMusik" with Donna Murphy and Michael Cerveris (2007): *1/2

Address: 226 West 46th StreetSeating capacity: 1,368 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "In the Heights"Notable for: Along with the Majestic Theater, the Richard Rogers boasts stadium seating in the orchestra level, improving sightlines

What I've seen at this theater:-"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" with Matthew Broderick (1995): ***1/2-"Chicago" with Bebe Neuwirth (1997): ***1/2-"Private Lives" with Alan Rickman (2002): ***1/2-"Movin' Out" with music by Billy Joel (2004): ***1/2-"In the Heights" with Lin Manuel Miranda (2008): ***

Address: 1564 BroadwaySeating capacity: 1,784 (large), with two balconiesCurrently playing: "Legally Blonde"Notable for: This is a flagship Broadway Theater, and is well suited for large, glitzy musicals

What I've seen at this theater:-"Aida" with music by Elton John (2004): ***-"Legally Blonde" with Laura Bell Bundy (2007): ***

Address: 214 West 42nd StreetSeating capacity: 1,747 (large), with two balconiesCurrently playing: "Mary Poppins"Notable for: This is the most beautiful theater on Broadway, thanks to Disney who restored it stunningly and brought it out of obscurity

What I've seen at this theater:-"The Lion King" with Heather Headley (1998): ***1/2

Address: 20 Lincoln Center PlazaSeating capacity: 2,755 (large), with 4 ringsCurrently playing: (various)Notable for: Being the home of the NYC Ballet and the City Opera (the "other" opera company); not technically a Broadway Theater

What I've seen at this theater:-"Daphne" (2004): **-"La Boheme" (2004): **1/2-"Platee" (2004): ***1/2

Address: 201 West 41st StreetSeating capacity: 1,232 (mid-sized), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Rent" (recently closed)Notable for: Before "Rent" resurrected the Nederlander, this theater was dark for a long time (it's location below 42nd Street was once considered unattractive)

What I've seen at this theater:-"Rent" by Jonathan Larson (1996, 1996, 1997, 2004): ****

Address: 200 West 45th StreetSeating capacity: 1,710 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "The Lion King"Notable for: Another large modern theater; theater is elevated and lobby has a spectacular view of Times Square

What I've seen at this theater:-"Sunset Boulevard" with Betty Buckley (1996): ***1/2-"The Scarlett Pimpernel" with music by Frank Wildhorn: **-"Fiddler on the Roof" with Alfred Molina (2004, saw twice): ***1/2

Address: 1535 BroadwaySeating capacity: 1,604 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Irving Berlin's White Christmas"Notable for: Theater is built within the Marriott Marquis Hotel; it's a modern theater suitable for large musicals and boasts probably the best sightlines of any Broadway theater

Address: 247 West 44th StreetSeating capacity: 1,645 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "The Phantom of the Opera"Notable for: Musical theater house with stadium seating on the main floor; unique for housing Broadway's longest running show, "The Phantom of the Opera"

What I've seen at this theater:-"The Phantom of the Opera" directed by Hal Prince (1992, 1996, 2004): ***

Address: 220 West 48th StreetSeating capacity: 1,081 (mid-sized), with two balconiesCurrently playing: "Boeing-Boeing"Notable for: BEING THE ONLY BROADWAY THEATER I HAVE NOT SEEN A SHOW IN; beautifully restored earlier in the year

Address: 252 West 45th StreetSeating capacity: 805 (small), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Avenue Q"Notable for: This intimate auditorium has one only one aisle running down the center of the auditorium versus the traditional two

What I've seen at this theater:-"Master Class" with Patti LuPone (1996): ***-"Avenue Q" (2004): ***1/2

Address: 249 West 45th StreetSeating capacity: 1,421 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Billy Elliot"Notable for: One of the most sought-after theaters which combines a large seating capacity with an intimate atmosphere

What I've seen at this theater:-"Les Miserables" directed by Trevor Nunn (1991, 1995): ****-"The Boy from Oz" with Hugh Jackman (2004): **1/2-"Coram Boy" originally seen at the Royal National Theater (2007): ***

Address: 213 West 42nd StreetSeating capacity: 1,813 (large), with two balconiesCurrently playing: "Young Frankenstein"Notable for: This is a modern theater designed in the old-school theater design mode; it's suitable for spectacular musicals and is notable for it's large orchestra level and two relatively small balconies

Address: 651 Fulton Street, BrooklynSeating capacity: 874 (small), with one balconyCurrently playing: (Various)Notable for: Although the seating capacity is less than your average Broadway theater, productions here tend to have an epic feel to them; theater is distinguished by a steeply raked auditorium with notoriously uncomfortable seating in the balcony; theater is also noted for its stripped, bohemian decor

What I've seen at this theater:-"Othello" presented by Cheek by Jowl (2004): ***-"Macbeth" with Patrick Stewart (2008): ****

Address: 222 West 51st StreetSeating capacity: 1,933 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Wicked"Notable for: This is one of Broadway's few theaters built in the modern era; it's one of the very largest theaters on Broadway, and it's suitable for large scale musicals

What I've seen at this theater:-"Death of a Salesman" with Brian Dennehy (1999, saw twice): ****-"Caroline, or Change" with Tanya Pinkins (2004): ***1/2-"Sweeney Todd" with Michael Cerveris (2006): ***-"Spring Awakening" with music by Duncan Sheik (2006): ***1/2

Address: Central ParkSeating capacity: 1,892 (large), with no balconyCurrently playing: none (summer run of "Hair" just concluded)Notable for: Public Theater's spectacular Shakespeare in the Park programming; although not technically a Broadway theater, the Delacorte has transferred some high profile shows to a Broadway house

What I've seen at this theater:-"On the Town" directed by George C. Wolfe (1997): ***-"The Taming of the Shrew" (1999): ***

Address: 131 West 55th StreetSeating capacity: 2,750 (large), with two balconiesCurrently playing: "On the Town" (an Encores! presentation)Notable for: Not technically a Broadway theater, this house is host to the hugely popular Encores! series

What I've seen at this theater:-American Ballet Theater featuring a mixed bill (2004): ***

Address: 1633 BroadwaySeating capacity: 650 (small) with no balconyCurrently playing: (none)Notable for: Only Broadway theater with a true three quarter thrust stage, no balcony, and an auditorium completely underground; theater is located in the same complex as the Gershwin Theater

What I've seen at this theater:-"Metamorphoses" directed by Mary Zimmerman (2002): ***1/2

What I've seen at this theater:-"Noises Off" with Patti LuPone and Faith Prince (2002): ****-"Jumpers" with Simon Russell Beale (2004): ***-"Democracy" with James Naughton (2004): ***-"A Moon for the Misbegotten" with Kevin Spacey (2007): ***1/2

Address: 1681 BroadwaySeating capacity: 1,752 (large), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Shrek"Notable for: This is a premier musical comedy house, with the distinction of starting out as a movie palace

Address: 235 West 44th StreetSeating capacity: 1,186 (mid-sized), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Equus"Notable for: Has a twin theater in the Schoenfeld Theater

What I've seen at this theater:-"Kiss of the Spider Woman" with Chita Rivera (1993): ****-"Dance of Death" with Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan (2001): ***-"The History Boys" with Richard Griffiths (2006): ****-"Les Miserables" with Lea Salonga (2007): ***

Address: 222 West 45th StreetSeating capacity: 785 (small), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Dividing the Estate"Notable for: It's one of the coziest Broadway theaters, and one of the finest theaters to watch plays (i.e, non-musicals)

What I've seen at this theater:-"The Pillowman" with Billy Crudup (2005): ****-"Faith Healer" with Ralph Fiennes (2006): ****-"The Seafarer" with David Morse (2007): ***1/2

Address: 219 W. 49th StreetSeating capacity: 1,125 (mid-sized), with one balconyCurrently playing: "Chicago"Notable for: Given that the theater was build diagonally on the plot of land, the auditorium is wider than most Broadway theaters

What I've seen at this theater:-"Bring in da Noise/Bring in da Funk" with Savion Glover (1996): ***1/2-"Hedda Gabler" with Kate Burton (2001): ***-"Topdog/Underdog" with Jeffrey Wright (2002)

Not only am I a huge performance enthusiast, I am also a big fan of the venues in which they take place. And in terms of performance spaces, nothing beats the intimacy and sense of occasion of attending a show in a Broadway theater. The next series of posts are dedicated to New York City's Broadway theaters. My hope is that by viewing these posts, you get sense, no matter how small, of the magic that these magnificent performance spaces exude. Enjoy!

Together with the folks at Redmoon, Blair Thomas & Co. has a monopoly on puppet theater in Chicago. His stunning craftsmanship is currently display via "Cabaret of Desire", a surreal, melancholy collection of letters, poems, and vignettes (made especially for puppet theater) by Frederico Garcia Lorca. The entire project comes off as playful, macabre, and defiantly and wonderfully avant-garde. The piece is performed by a remarkable cast of five, who "double" as puppeteers, actors, stage crew, and musicians/singers.

Victory Gardens is currently presenting a very touching production of Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice". It's a radical reinterpretation of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, which retains the essential themes of the power of love and the devastation of loss. For me, it's the best thing to be staged yet at their beautiful Biograph venue, and I think it's because the production understands the dimensions of the space (unlike previous shows, which almost seem to be intimidated by it). Although not technically a world premier (I had seen a workshop-like production of "Eurydice" at the Piven Workshop up in Evanston a couple of years ago), it is presents further evidence of Ms. Ruhl's considerable playwriting talents. And married to the visually poetic production by Sandy Shinner and Jessica Thebus, as well as the deeply-felt performances, the text comes to vivid theatrical life.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Joffrey Ballet's season under new artistic director Ashley Wheater opens with its exquisitely danced Fall Program. Works included are the revival of Robert Joffrey's winsome "Postcards", the Joffrey premier of Jerome Robbins' elegant "In the Night", and the world premier of Edwaard Liang's exciting "Age of Innocence". It's an eclectic lineup, but all play to the company's modern/classical sensibility.

Friday, October 24, 2008

"Red Angel" presented by the folks at LiveWire is a mixed bag. It starts out promisingly enough, with a young aspiring writer seducing a household name author. However, it loses focus as seemingly the same scene gets played out in different permutations. It's the most fully realized set I've seen at the tiny Side Studio yet, and the acting is all very thoughtful, bold even. However, this is a better production than the script deserves.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Stage Left's production of "After Ashley" is an above average comedy which manages to dramatically engage as well as make us laugh. The show deals with how father and son (Brian Plocharczyk in an inspired performance) deal with the death of the matriarch. The play is always interesting to watch because it's populated by smart, interesting characters who seem real. However, Stage Left is notorious for its "bare-bones" stagings, and this is one play that could benefit from just a bit more realism.